Book ends



Nov. 16, 1943. e. CLIFT 2,334,251

BOOK ENDS Filed April 27, 1942 INVENTOR ATTORNEY greater or less number of books.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITE 4 300K ENDS George Clift, Detroit, Mich. Application April 27, 1842, Serial Ncib'i'llii mam. ci. xii-es f This invention relates to book ends and the object of theinvention is to provide a pair of book ends eachattached 'to opposite ends of a cord which extends from the base of one book spacing 'of the two book ends.

Afurtherobject and feature of the invention is to provide abook end 'having a vertical and a horizontal base between which thereis a re cessed portion to receive the figure-of anlanimal, such as a horse and rider to' wh-ic h opposite ends of the cord may be attached and utilized to vary the spacing of the book ends.

These and other variousobjects and novel 'feaend tothe other and is adjustable to vary: the

tures of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of book ends embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the book ends in spaced relationship and the means. for varying the spacing.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a book end taken fromtheleft side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section through one taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. g v

i Fig. 4 is a perspective view taken in the direction'of the arrow 0 of Fig. 1 showing the means for securing a loop of the cord at various points along the base of the book ends. I

The usual pair of book ends are sustained in position by their own weight but are easily separated and require'frequent repositioning to hold a row of books in'vertical position. By my improved construction, I provide a meansfor definitelyL spacing the book ends in which they are held from displacement, the arrangement providing for variation in the spacing to accommodate a In the preferred form, the two book ends are duplicate in form as indicated at l and 2 in Fig. 1, each having a base 3 which may be of any approved material and a vertical element 3 positioned at a right angle thereto for engaging the side of a book or other articles to be supported between the book ends. Each of the book ends is provided with a slot 5 in the base which opens through the upper face thereof and through the vertical portion for a distance above the base as of the book ends gether by a cord l2 attached at its opposite ends to the guiding rein; l3 of each figure'and' extendi'ng therefrom through the slot 5'Which'opens indicated in the left hand book end in Fig. 1. In

the angle between the base 3 and vertical portion l of each of the book ends isa pair of spaced members 6 and 1 shown more clearly in .Fig. 3

which are of a rectangular form and preferably provide a frame to receive a plate like element 8 which may be a picture, a looking glass or other character of memberadapted to engage in the slots provided therefor in each of the frames as shown inl ig. 3 and these slots preferably open through the top cross member 9*of each frame be introduced orwithdrawnI 1 n V These frame members 6 and l arespaced apart .through which the picture or other elemen't 8 may which spacing is alignedp with the slot 5 of the base and between these frames at'the'outer vertical edge thereof the slot isfilled fora distance from the haseto provide'a supportlll as shown inFig. 1 on which the 'figure ll may rest. This figurejw hich maybe of a form of a horse here shown, is preferably made of a thin "sheet 4 metal permitting the same to be introduced into the space between the frames'li and l with the rear legs of the horse within the said space and supported in an angular position, as shown by the support Iii. e

As here shown, the horses are connected to.-

through each base and is there wrapped; around one of a series of lugs l i shown more clearly in Fig. 4. These lugs are spaced apart fldngitudi nally of the slot 5 and have a hookededge 'l 5" to prevent the cords from slipping off the respective lug Hi. By thus wrappingthe cordabout thelug M of one book end and of the corresponding;or other lug of the other book end,'the said book ends are spaced a, cei' tain distance apart and by carrying the cord about other of the lugs of each of the book ends they may be spaced nearer together or farther apart to accommodate different numbers of books. When the cord is adiusted to position the book ends a required disable length as might be required for any specific use and adjustable to readily vary the spacing.

While I have shown the members ii and l as adaptable for use in introducing a picture or a looking glass or other character of device therein, the invention is not limited to such feature. The essential feature is to provide the two spaced parts on each book end which space is open to the slot of the base providing a recess to receivethe figure of a sheet-like form therein to which the cord is attached after the manner heretofore described.

The book ends are particularly useful for a childs room and the figure of a horse is desirable as indicating a function for the cord which runs to the hand I5 of the figure to which the reins l3 extend which reins may conveniently be a part of the cord l2. The hand iii of each figure has an aperture and the mouth of each horse l6 has an aperture through which the cord may extend and thence to the hand of'the rider and thence to 9, lug M. It is, however, obvious that the invention is not limited to the utilization of a figure of an animal as other means may be provided for each book end to which the respective cord ends is secured as the adjustment of the spacing of the book ends and the retention of the book ends in the spaced relation is attained by having the opposite ends of the cords in a fixed relation with the respective book end and extending to one or the other of the lugs of the respective book'end and about which several turns of the cord may be made to thus vary the spacing of the book ends by increasing or decreasing the number of turns limit the extent to which the book ends may be of the cord on the lug or by winding the cord on different lugs.

The figure of the horse and rider is preferably of a thin material permitting the introduction of a portion of the horse into the slot and the figure is sustained in the slot by the cord but, as previously stated, the invention is not confined to the figureof a horse and rider. The principal object is to-provide a decorative element insertable in the slot and to which the cord is attached and about which a portion of the cord adjacent the end may be Wound so that the cord is substan tially taut and thus enabling the device to be used with either a long or a'short stack of books and to maintain the book ends in close contact with the respective ends of the stack of books.

It is believed evident from the foregoing description that the various features and objects of the invention are attained by the structure described, that the structure is simple and inexpen sive in character and decorative in form and readily adjustable for the purpose stated.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1-. A pair of book ends of duplicate form each having a vertical portion for contacting the respective opposite sides of a stack of books, and a horizontal base portion having a slot, a cord having its' opposite ends secured to the respective oppositely disposed book ends, and a lug in each slot about which a portion of a cord passing there spaced.

2. A pair of book ends of duplicate construction, each having a vertical portion for contacting the respective opposite sides of a stack of books,. and a. horizontal base portion having a slot opening through the upper face, a cord having its outward ends attached to the respective oppositely disposed book ends, a series of spaced lugs extending laterally into the slot, about anyone of which the cord may be looped to thereby prevent spreading of the book ends, and means above the slot associated with each book end to which the respective opposite ends of the cord may be attached. v

3. A pair of book ends of duplicate structure, each having a vertical portion for contacting the respective opposite sides of a stack of booksand a horizontal base portion having a slot opening through the upper and lower faces thereof," a pair of spaced elements for each book end positioned in the angle between the vertical and horizontal portions thereof, the space between said a pair of members aligning with the slot in the base,

means insertible in the slot between the said members of each book end to which respective opposite ends of the cord are secured, and means in the slot of each base for holding the cord between the book end practically in contact with the surfaceon which the book ends rest. I

4. A pair of book ends of duplicate structure, each having a vertical portion for contacting the respective opposite sides of a stack of books and a horizontal base portion having a slot opening through the upper and lower faces thereof, a pair of spaced elements for each book end positioned in the angle between the vertical and horizontal portions thereof, the space between said pair of members aligning with the slot in the base, an animal figure such as a horse and rider in,- sertible in the slot betweenthesaid members of each book end to whichthe respective opposite ends of the cord may be secured and providing a means on which a portion of the cord toward eachattached end may be wound to vary the length of the cord, and means in the slot of the base portions for holding the cord in the portion thereof extending from one base to the other practically in contact with the'surface on which said base portionsmay rest,

GEORGE CLIFT. 

